How to Spend a Day in Falmouth

July 29th, 2019

Falmouth is a beautiful Cornish seaside town, and because of its glorious scenery it’s a popular tourist spot. With so many people visiting Falmouth, it accommodates by having an abundance of attractions! From museums and castles to beaches and boat trips, there is plenty to see and do in this stunning part of the country! We take a look at how best to spend a day in Falmouth so you can take full advantage of your time in Cornwall.

Explore Pendennis Castle

Start your day by learning about some of Falmouth’s heritage at Pendennis Castle. With spectacular views of the sea, this castle was formerly one of Henry the Eighth’s most beautiful coastal fortresses! Additionally, the incredible castle has defended Cornwall since the Tudor times and played a vital role in both of the World War’s, so it is bursting with a fascinating history!

Today, you can visit Pendennis Castle and experience what it was like during battle! You can meet characters dressed up in costume from the past, and in the summer months, you can watch a daily firing of a historic gun! There is also a mesmerising exhibit that showcases what the castle was like during World War One; discover heart-wrenching letters, photographs and artefacts from the tragic time. Furthermore, on selected dates, the castle hosts Legendary Joust events; take a trip to the past and be a spectator of a thrilling battle!

After you have immersed yourself in the history of the remarkable castle, take a trip to the café and have a traditional Cornish bite to eat. If you prefer some alfresco dining, bring along your own picnic and set up on the lawn area; take in the exquisite views as you tuck into some delicious goodies!

Take a Boat Trip with AK Wildlife Cruises

What better way to spend your time in the seaside town of Falmouth than on a boat discovering some of the fascinating creatures living in the waters! On your journey, you will have the opportunity to see whales, dolphins, basking sharks, seals and many other species! AK Wildlife Cruises have introduced a new boat tour called “Family Bay Exploration” which is a three-hour experience to explore the spectacular coastline. There are also four-hour and seven-hour cruises if you would prefer to spend some more time out at sea.

To prepare for your wildlife discovery, take some binoculars to see as much as you can and also bring along some snack for if you get peckish! The boat is called “Free Spirit” and has both indoor and outdoor seating to accommodate all guests, and there is also a toilet on board. The boat captain and wildlife specialist, Keith, is incredibly passionate about what he does which resonates through the tours – he will help you spot all of the remarkable creatures! He will teach you all about them; any questions you may have, ask him, and he will be happy to answer!

Unwind at The Beach

In the late afternoon, take a trip to the beach to enjoy the spectacular scenery and relax on the golden sand. Considered the best in the area, Gyllyngvase Beach is the perfect spot to spend your evening! With toilet and shower facilities as well as hot and cold food on offer, this beach is brilliant for a family trip. If you are fancying a dip in the sea, the beach is manned by a lifeguard and the ocean is safe to swim in!

Once you have had a splash around in the beautiful blue waters, built some impressive sandcastles and soaked up some afternoon sunshine, you would’ve worked up an appetite. Why not taste the delights of local food and have some fish and chips by the beach? The Firepit Gylly Grill has an extensive menu from burgers and steak to pasta and obviously the glorious fish and chips!

If you would like to visit the lovely coastal town, consider a luxury Falmouth holiday and treat yourself and your family to a getaway at The Valley! With a unique collection of beautiful self-catering holiday cottages situated in a picturesque landscape, it is the perfect spot for your trip to the seaside! For even more insider info on Falmouth, check out our ultimate Falmouth guide.

Best Diving Spots in Cornwall

July 27th, 2018

As a coastal county, where fun by the seaside is enjoyed by all who visit, it is no surprise that Cornwall is one of the best destinations in the UK for diving. The extensive Cornish coastline is the final resting place for many an unfortunate ship, and also finds itself home to a diverse range of marine life, making it an incredibly interesting area to go exploring underwater. We take a look at a few of the best dive sites around Cornwall.

 

Falmouth Bay

With a mix of shore and offshore dives, Falmouth Bay provides some of the best diving experiences, from wrecks to reefs, for divers of all abilities. The sheltered location, close to shore locations and shallow wrecks in Falmouth Bay are ideal for those only just getting started with diving, while boat trips can take the more experienced further out to deeper dives. With one of the deepest harbours in the world found in Falmouth, the area is home to a high number of shipwrecks, with the infamous Manacles dive site nearby. The waters around Falmouth are filled with a diverse range of marine life, including dogfish, pollack, goldsinny wrasse and conger eels.

 

Mullion

Found on the Lizard Peninsula, Mullion is a small town with a harbour leading to some great diving adventures. A number of wrecks lie beneath the waves, waiting to be explored, including the cannon from the galleon Santo Christo de Castello, a mid-17^th-century merchant ship. A mix of sea life can be found here, such as sea anemones and jellyfish.

 

 

The Manacles

One of the most famous diving sites in the whole of the UK, The Manacles is an impressive reef that has seen the end for over 100 ships. Setting off from Porthoustock Cove, there are a number of dives in the area great for beginners through to experienced divers. A deeper dive for the more proficient divers will see you exploring the Mohegan, a liner that met its end in the reef back in 1898, and is said to be haunted; although that might just be the conger eels that live in the wreck! The wreck of the Volnay, a cargo ship that sunk in 1917, can also be found at the Manacles, around 21 metres deep.

 

Land’s End

Land’s End looks spectacular both above and below water, with a number of dramatic wrecks and scenic dives to explore. While Land’s End marks the stopping point for above sea adventure, it acts as a launch pad for many underwater escapades. There are a number of spots to explore from, including Sennen Cove, where the remains of the s.s. Datetree lie nearby, Runnelstone Reef, which has over 15 wrecked steamships and is perfect for keen photographers, and Lamorna Cove, where the wrecks of s.s. Garonne and s.s. Avebury can be found.

 

For inexperienced divers, there are a wide variety of diving schools dotted around the coast to teach you the ropes, even if you can only manage to snorkel in the shallows! If you want to explore a coastline that is brimming with sea life and to discover the fates of some historical shipwrecks, then join us for luxury Falmouth holidays, with a great location for reaching all the best spots.

Newquay’s Blue Reef Aquarium set to showcase new water babies in Easter Nautical Nippers feature

March 27th, 2015

Lucky visitors to popular tourist attraction, the Newquay Blue Reef Aquarium, will be able to discover and find out all about the exciting and fascinating world of nautical nippers over the forthcoming Easter holidays.

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